Mar 29 - Apr 1 2009

Sunday, March 29, 2009 9:17 PM, EDT

WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! Whew, got that over with. I really thought the Cards would make it further this year, oh well, at least the kids have their rightful spot back in the photo box.

Treatment wise, my mouth healed up, my legs aren't swollen, and I've managed to eat like a human, which must only mean that that round #6 is around the corner, Tuesday actually - and I find out the results of my BRCA/gene test in the next week or so - the next big hurdle.

One of my favorite TV shows has officially become a train wreck that I can't help but watch. I mean really, how many of you predicted the hallucinating Izzy storyline ending up with her having stage 4 cancer? [Yes, Grey's Anatomy for those who watch more mature TV.] I hate to admit, two weeks ago when the friends all rallied and she accepted her diagnosis I actually cried [though I hope that had more to do with the Taxotere screwing with my hormones, and the Lortabs I was on for my mouth...] Last week I was far more cynical though. I kept thinking are the writers really going to show how ugly cancer treatment is? Are they really going to show this blond beauty week after week bald and bloated, with serious makeup covering the fact she has no eyebrows or lashes, with port scars and swollen ankles crawling to the bathroom to barf?? I think not. That's the hypocracy with me and TV, I watch rediculous shows and then when the plot hits close to home I expect them to be more realistic - my twisted version of a pity party in this case I suppose. I know, I've got issues. Regardless you can bet Grey's remains in my TiVo, and I'll be sure to tune in to see where this story goes. Rediculous, I know. Alot of things are a bit rediculous right now - might as well be entertained by some of it!



Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:12 PM, EDT

Round 6 done - two to go!! So for now it is deal with side effects, which I am better prepared for, and wait for the BRCA test. Looks like I'll have to do radiation no matter which surgery I have - and oddly, knowing that is nice because it doesn't have to play into my surgery decision [I also found out the weight gain was water weight from steroids b/c it left as quickly as it came thank GOD]. If I get a negative BRCA, we save the TaTa's, if not, I eventually get new ones. From those I've talked to [patients as well as medical people] radiation is nothing compared to Chemo in my case, largely b/c of location and how fine tuned they can make it. I figure surgery should land sometime early June, but I'll find out in a few weeks when I have all the info I need to meet with my surgeon again.

So, for now I will try to be productive while I have the extra jolt from steroids for a couple of more days - kind of like telling an ADHD kid to sit down - we'll see how that works out. See? I am already managing to not do my paperwork.

Take care all - keep the mojo coming for news/results/decisions to come. And make yourself watch Grey's Anatomy so you'll know what I'm talking about when I gripe about the Izzy storyline...ok, mabye not. Let's blame that comment on the steroids! :)



Wednesday, April 1, 2009 3:19 PM, EDT

BRCA 1/2 NEGATIVE!!!! I do not carry the breast/ovarian cancer mutated gene.The best news in a long time for me - the tata's are saved, my surgery can be far less invasive, and the women in my family don't have daunting statistics weighing against them in regards to breast/ovarian cancers. Needless to say a huge relief and a huge weight lifted off of me. Maybe this road is finally getting shorter for a change!